Title

Author

Date of Award

4-1985

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Anthropology

First Advisor

Dr. Robert I. Sundick

Second Advisor

Dr. William Cremin

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

A 25 to 30 year old American aborigine male dating from A.D. 170 + 80 years exhibits bilateral osteolytic lesions of the temporal bones. A differential diagnosis was set up to determine the cause of the pathology. It was determined that the individual had probably been subject to chronic suppurative otitis media complicated by mastoiditis, cholesteatoma, and probable lateral sinus thrombosis of the right temporal bone. Otitis media then developed within the left temporal bone causing some bone destruction, although not to the extent seen in the right temporal. It is likely that a small cholesteatoma had developed or would have developed in the left temporal bone, had the individual survived longer. The ultimate cause of death is believed to be due to meningitis following dural exposure. This is a significant specimen because no earlier case of cholesteatoma in America has been reported.

Recommended Citation

Hull, Robert William, "Cholesteatoma in a Pre-Columbian American Aborigine from the Gyftakis Site, St. Ignace, Michigan" (1985). Master's Theses. 1377.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1377